Hospital Holidays:A Travelers’ Guide to

Medical Tourism

Leslie Pirtle, April 5, 2008

STEP 1: Choose Topic

STEP 2: MIND MAP

THE TRAVELER’S

GUIDE TO MEDICAL TOURISM

WHO

•Who seeks

overseas treatment?

•Who are the doctors?

HOW

Submit

NOW

8/31

BeginWHEN

!

•Interviews

•Review and expand existing

research

•Advertisements

•Participate?

WHERE

•From wheredo patients originate?

•Which countries do they visit for

treatment?Examine costs and benefits

of global outsourcing

of Health Care

WHAT WHY

•What motivates

doctors/patients

to offer/seek it?

STEP 3: ILP Proposal

Problem Statement: Reliable medical treatment is becoming increasingly

available overseas. While this trend promises hope to many Americans in need of affordable, quality care, it also gives rise to a myriad of choices for the prospective medical tourist.

Rationale and goals for project: There is a need for clear, concise and unbiased

information and decision- making criteria for Americans considering going abroad for health care.

STEP 3: ILP Proposal, cont’d

Describe the methods you will use and what population your ILP addresses Primary (surveys, interviews) and

secondary data, accounts of anecdotes and of interviews.

Targeted to potential US patients—anyone is a potential patient

STEP 3: ILP Proposal: Timeline

April 30: Introduction is

complete Literature review

complete Preliminary

bibliography complete

May 15: Bulk of reading is

complete

May 30: Interviews complete

May June 1: First draft complete

June 15 Summary, discussion

and conclusions complete

Abstract complete June 30

Submit draft for final review

July 15 Hand in final copy

STEP 4 First Draft/Introductory Pages

Title page and copyright page: done Excerpt of Introduction:

The unrestrained costs of health care in the U.S. have put treatments out of reach for many of the over 45 million U.S. citizens who lack health insurance. There seem to be so few workable, readily applicable solutions. Medical tourism offers “…cost savings as high as 90%, depending on the procedure and the country in which it is performed, and virtually no wait times.”

The option of medical tourism is a tremendously empowering opportunity that allows US patients to “vote with their feet” and receive care and far acceptable costs.

This report will help the prospective medical tourist to become well-versed in medical travel and will empower him to make informed decisions when choosing such care.

While it is to be a road map, the ultimate destination—or even whether to take the journey---is left to the prospective medical traveler.

Draft first version of your ILP: In process

STEP 5 Problem Statement

The numbers of United States patients traveling abroad to receive medical care has rapidly risen over the past three years. With this entire global medical community readily available in the internet, this has resulted in an information overload. The need exists for creation of a “road map” to guide the potential medical tourist through this plethora of decisions and choices and arrive at an informed decision.

STEP 6: Research

Reading thus far: 2 Books

1 First-hand account of a medical tourism experience 1 study of economics of global medicine

52 Scholarly articles Human resources journals Medical journals Medical tourism trade journals National/international newspapers

Still to do: Interviews/surveys Much more to read Two more books to read

STEP 7: Literature Review

In progress

STEP 8: Body of ILP

What is Medical Tourism? Brief History of Medical Tourism What is driving the demand for outsourced

care? Most Common Procedures Considerations Industry Players Making an informed choice Outcomes The Future of Medical Tourism

Medical Tourism: Various Definitions

Only cosmetic and non essential surgeries

Only surgeries where a “tourism” component is involved

For the purpose of this paper, a wider definition:

“Medical Tourism is the act of traveling abroad to receive medical, dental and cosmetic care.”

http://medical-tourism-healthbase.com/index.php

Brief History of Medical Tourism

Greeks traveled to Epidauria British TB patients traveled to

sanatoriums Swiss Alps

Demand Drivers

High cost in home country Long wait in public health care countries Unapproved procedures Tourism aspect Favorable Exchange Rates

Most Common Procedures

Heart Surgery Transplants Cosmetic Dental Lasix eye

Precautionaries

Ethical Questions Legal Issues Quality of Care Concerns

Major Industry Players

Hospitals Public and For profits

Agents Governments Travel industry Insurance (Emerging) Employers (Emerging)

Major Hospitals

Bumrungrad (Bahm-roong-RAHT), Thailand

Escorts Heart Institute, India

Wockhardt Hospitals India (Harvard)

Apollo Hospitals (Johns Hopkins)

Max Health Care India

Hospital Ammenities

Making an Informed Choice

Do thorough credential and accreditation check

Consider costs – and opportunity costs

Understand how the exchange rate works

Know yourself-how you will handle culture shock

Joint Commission International

Joint Commission International About 140 hospitals in

26 countries. Approximately 300

standards and 1200 measurable elements

International Standards Organization ISO is a network of the

national standards institutes of 157 countries

Devices Management Practices

http://www.jointcommissioninternational.org/sitecollections/site-documents/29113.pdf

The Future of Medical Tourism

Impact on US Healthcare Economy Involvement of insurance companies Incentives from employers